Spontaneous vs. Scheduled

Every birth is different. Unique and filled with a myriad of emotion. No matter how you plan to have your baby. And while every woman generally knows what to expect in labor and delivery, you never really know what to expect. Things can change in a heartbeat and your birth plan goes out the window.

I've been very blessed to have three deliveries that were low risk and without complications. On one end of the spontaneous vs scheduled spectrum I've had one completely natural birth, and on the other end, a scheduled c-section. My middle child, fittingly, was in the middle - a scheduled induction.

I loved not knowing exactly when Lucas would be born, waiting the last few days, anxiously anticipating my first birthing experience. You can read his full birth story here; it was definitely an interesting one!

It is so amazing to me how a woman's body works; throughout the pregnancy growing that small, tiny collection of cells into a whole person, and at the right time creating the perfect conditions for giving birth. It is something so natural, beautiful, painful and messy.

Now, my kids have all loved being in the womb, the first two almost overstayed their welcome - which is why I had an induced birth with Elena. In many ways it was the easiest of my pregnancies and deliveries. We sauntered in to the hospital on the day of her birth, got some drugs and relaxed until the contractions started. Nine hours later Elena arrived and I got to spend the first hour of her life nursing her in the labor and delivery room while I was under observation. It was time I never got with my other kids.

After having two vaginal deliveries, I thought the third one would be easy as pie. Then we found out it was twins! I had high hopes for the first few months that I'd still be able to have a natural delivery, but by about 32 weeks both girls were heads up and I was getting anxious to get them out! Since the birth I've basically been told that doctors here rarely allow a natural twin delivery. It was quite a different feeling to know almost exactly when they would be born (barring complications, of course). Despite a little scare a week before their "due date" they were pretty happy in the womb. I'm not sure how much longer I could have gone though!

36 Weeks and 1 day - in the hospital just about to be prepped for surgery.

So at 36 weeks we checked in to the hospital and got prepped. Honestly I kind of felt like I was cheating by skipping the whole painful labor part. (Of course I knew I would probably make up for it with a painful recovery). It was my first ever surgery. The weird thing is they remove the babies and they get whisked away to be cleaned and checked. Ours went to the ICU for observation seeing as they were technically "preemies". Then you spend about 45 minutes getting sewn up from the surgery and taken to an observation wing to wait for hours as the anesthesia wears off. It is this bizarre time, feeling frozen and "alone", sensing that something is just missing. I spent many minutes wondering about where all four of my kids were, what they were doing, and when I'd be able to see and hold my new babies.

If I were to do it again (which I am not) - I would try again for a natural delivery, probably with an epidural. The recovery just seemed so much harder and prolonged with a c-section. This could also be because it was twins, or because it is the most recent of my birthing experiences. I am, however, so thankful to have had a c-section in a time and place where it is safe, routine and relatively "low risk". If I'd had minimal medical resources, I probably would've died trying to deliver two babies who were in breech and transverse positions!

Beyond all that, of course, is the fact that I have four healthy, thriving kids and I'll be glad to share with them the amazing ways they entered the world.

The Bump: 36 Weeks

How far along: 36 Weeks as of May 19
Development: Well, we're at the finish line, folks. In the last week I had two doctor's appointments, three non-stress tests, and an ultrasound. Everything looks great but the girls are both heads up so we are going ahead with a scheduled c-section tomorrow! They are estimated to be about 45 cm long and about 2.3 kilos (about 5 lbs). It will be interesting to see what their actual measurements are after all this monitoring and guessing.
Movement: The girls are really very active. I'm hoping all this kicking and exercising has helped them become strong so they'll do well when they're born.
Weight Gain: Total weight gain this pregnancy - 6.6 kgs (14 and a half lbs)
Maternity Clothes: Full on with maternity pants and long, long tops and dresses.
Stretch Marks: My belly is so stretched it is shiny and I've lost feeling right above my belly button. It is the weirdest sensation to poke it and not really feel it at all.
Best moment of my week: Although it's been hard to be away from my kids, it has been so nice to rest and relax at my in-laws place. We lived here for a while, so it feels like another home to me. Plus, I don't have to cook, wash dishes, do laundry, or run after rambunctious pre-schoolers!
Worst moment: Last Monday when I went to my doctor's appointment with a serious cold and fever. The fever raised the girls heart rates and so I had to spend the whole afternoon in the hospital doing another stress-test, ultrasound and wearing an annoying mask that made my glasses fog up. At least my mil treated me to Starbucks when we were done with our four-hour hospital ordeal.
Sleep: Have had some bad nights, but overall can't complain too much. I know how little sleep I'll be getting in the next few months so I'm trying to get as much as I can right now. It is hard to turn around and I'm pretty achy in the morning.
Miss Anything: Feeling comfortable.
Food Cravings: No cravings - just hungry and thirsty all the time.
Aversions: Nope - just have to be careful about what I eat so I don't get heartburn or acid reflux.
Gender: Girls!
Labor signs: A few random contractions here and there.
Belly Button: What belly button?
Rings: On
Mood: Feeling just about every emotion possible about my upcoming (and first ever) surgery to have these girls - excited, anxious, nervous, worried, happy.
Looking forward: There are so many things I'm looking forward to this week! Mostly losing my belly and being able to sleep on my tummy, and back, and being able to turn around without massive effort. And although I know the c-section recovery will not be quick, I'm looking forward to getting my post-baby body back! More energy and ability to play with and snuggle and cuddle ALL my kids!

If you're the praying type - please pray for the surgery tomorrow. As I mentioned it's my first surgery ever, and while I feel totally safe and comfortable with my doctor, we would appreciate your prayers for her and the girls - that they would be born healthy, that their lungs would be fully developed, and that they won't need an extensive stay in the hospital. Thanks!

Want to read my other "bump" updates? 15 Weeks, 18 Weeks, 21 Weeks, 24 Weeks, 27 Weeks, 30 Weeks and 33 Weeks. 

You know you're having twins when....

My last appointment with my doctor - she'll be doing my c-section
on Monday morning. 

1. People have been asking from 6 months on, "oh, are you due soon?"

2. Even your maternity shirts aren't long enough to cover your growing bump.

3. You can't see your belly button when you're standing up, let alone your feet. 

4. Your belly stretches so much that parts of it become numb to the touch.

5. You kind of forget how big your belly is and keep bumping it when you open doors.

6. You use your laptop on your lap and can't see the keyboard.

7. You've been for so many ultrasounds and exams that the people know you at the labs.

Sometimes it feels very surreal that we are having twins. We have everything ready for the two of them; a big crib for them to share, two carseats, a double stroller, oodles of diapers and clothes and bottles and  pacifiers. I've done ten ultrasounds, and every time I see the two of them, hear their heartbeats, and as they've grown I can feel them kicking, pushing and rolling inside me. And yet I think it will still only be "real" to me when I see them both born and hold them in my arms. Three days to go!

The Calm before the Storm

and a 35 week update.

If you read my Mother's Day post here, you'll see that I have a pretty awesome mother and mother-in-law. As I head into the last week of my twin pregnancy their help and support have gone over and beyond what I could ever ask for. 

You see, we live in a small-ish city just outside of Sao Paulo. On a Sunday, we can make it into the center of Sao Paulo in less than an hour. On a weekday, during rush hour(s), it can take upwards of 2 and a half hours. When Elena was born, we were living in Sao Paulo and we had a great labor and delivery experience at a Maternity hospital here that is very close to my in-laws. Also, my doctor is around the corner. So for the last eight months I've been coming here for all my ultrasounds and doctor's appointments. With the increased risk in a multiple pregnancy, my doctor suggested I spend at least the last week of my pregnancy at my in-laws. 

So when my mom planned her trip here for the twins birth, she came a few weeks early so she could stay at our home with the kids, while I have sort of bed-rest at my in-laws. This way the kids can keep up with their normal routine before life gets crazy! And I get a little time to rest before the twins are born. 

Yesterday we had a little hiccup with our plan for a nice calm week before the storm of birth, newborns and all that. I suddenly developed a bad cold/cough/fever on Sunday night and by my doctor's appointment on Monday I was feeling distinctly under the weather. When we checked the babies' heart rates they were elevated. As we monitored them for about 15 minutes, they continued that way. My doctor was pretty sure it was a result of my fever, so she gave me some medicine and sent me off to the hospital to do another ultrasound and another session of monitoring the girls' hearts. If they had not returned to normal (which they did, thankfully!) I may have had an emergency c-section last night! Although we are technically "ready" for their birth, I am so thankful that I have a few more days to recover from this cold. 

And while I am missing my kiddos like crazy, I know they are in the capable hands of my mom. We are going to surprise them tomorrow when we go back to our home after picking up my sister, who is also arriving to help with the kids and twins. 

It's going to be a full house! 

And here we are at 35 Weeks...

I'm not going to go through the whole list thing - I'll save that for my last update - when I hit 36 weeks on Sunday! It is true that the last few weeks are the hardest. For me probably from about 34 weeks I started to feel very massive, and have quite a bit of pain during the day and a hard time getting comfortable in any position. Sleep - well, let's just say the twins are already preparing me for multiple mid-night wake-up calls! All in all, I am so thankful for having an easy and uncomplicated multiple pregnancy, and being able to still (mostly) care for my kids up until this week. I'm sure looking forward to losing this belly, getting back my ability to pick up and carry all my kids, and holding my sweet little girls on my lap. I do wish I could get at least an extra hand though; how do you carry both of them and do anything else? ;)

The Bump: 33 Weeks

How far along: 33 Weeks as of April 28
Development: Had another ultrasound this week and the girls are doing great. Unfortunately one of them still has her head up and she may not have enough room to turn around. So it may be a c-section delivery since she is the first in line to be born.

Movement: Lots and lots of movement, mostly around the top of my belly as there's a little more wiggle room up there.
Weight Gain: Total weight gain this pregnancy - 6.2 kgs
Maternity Clothes: Starting to find my maternity shirts feeling short - so it's a lot of dresses with jeans and leggings these days.
Stretch Marks: Not too many new ones, but my tummy is super red from being stretched so much.
Best moment of my week: Doing my maternity photo shoot! Can't wait to write a post about it.
Worst moment: Having both kids get sick in the past two weeks with pneumonia, bad nights and antibiotics. I guess they're getting me ready for getting up every two hours during the night?
Sleep: Starting to have some difficulty getting good sleep and finding a comfortable position, but I do wake up in the morning with a lot more energy and less pain than when I get to bed by night time.
Miss Anything: Being able to run after my kids! They can seriously outrun me right now.
Food Cravings: Everything! I am so hungry these days, but my stomach is so cramped for space I have to eat a little bit every hour. My girls need to gain a lot of weight in the next few weeks so I'll take advantage of it.
Aversions: Nope
Gender: Girls!
Labor signs: A few random contractions here and there.
Belly Button: Totally spread out. In fact I can hardly see it when I stand up!
Rings: On
Mood: Feeling a little hormonally challenged some days, trying to cherish the time with only two kids and yet looking forward to meeting my little girls.
Looking forward: My mom is arriving this week! So looking forward to spending time with her and having her here to help with the kids and the babies.

With the kids being so sick the past few weeks I haven't been keeping up with my weekly photos, but I'll give you a quick peek at some of my maternity shots. They were taken at 32 weeks.

It looks like I'll probably only have one more bump update for you all - if the girls continue to gain weight and reach well over 2 kilos each by about 36 weeks and if they stay in their current position, we'll probably have a scheduled c-section on or around May 19th!

Want to read my other "bump" updates? 15 Weeks, 18 Weeks, 21 Weeks, 24 Weeks, 27 Weeks and 30 Weeks.

Blessed

There's really no other word for it.

We have been amazingly and generously blessed by family and friends as we prepare for our twins arrival. 

When we first considered adding another little one to our family, we thought we basically had all our bases covered; crib - check, infant car seat - check, stroller - check, boy clothes - check, girl clothes - check, you get the idea. Learning we were having twins meant needing double of almost everything! Or something that works for twins - like a double stroller. Through many different circumstances and connections we've received a second-hand infant car seat, baby rocker, crib, high chair, diaper bag and lots of little girls clothes. The only big purchase I've made is for our double stroller - hand delivered to Brazil from Canada by my brother! :)  

We were also blessed to have a baby shower put on by my sisters and friends from church. Since I really love making invitations, I made the one for our shower.

Roughly translated it says:

Twins - A double dose of joy. 

Or we might say something like "Twins - twice as nice!"

We're expecting you

for our

Baby Shower

Date and Info

My sister-in-law Grace did the simple and sweet decorations.

Very labor intensive project - but so useful for the momma in the months to come.
I think 84 diapers were used to make these two "cakes"

Lots of kids at the shower! Elena was so excited to pick out her own dress. Later on Daddy took her and Lucas out for a bit. Before the shower Lucas played with grandpa. 

Friends and family made it a very special occasion.

My father-in-law got roped into sharing a short meditation and we were blessed to have good friends pray for us and the girls.

After that we had some fun games which included one where three of us had to try to decipher the ingredients of a jar of baby food. Man, that stuff is gross. I was totally wrong in my guesses! The guests also had to write a short note saying how they had met me, or a funny incident that we shared (without including their name). My other sister-in-law, Aline, gave me each note, and I read it aloud (good for my Portuguese practice!) and if I guessed the person incorrectly I would get another item to wear. The point is basically to make the mom look ridiculous.This is an integral part of any Brazilian baby shower. Thankfully most people were nice and obvious in their notes, so I only ended up with the funny streamer hat. 

The kids helped me open the gifts.

 With my baby shower for Elena, I had to guess what each gift contained - got a lot more of those wrong and ended up looking like this...

Almost all the women who attended the shower.

 The Loot! Total diaper tally so far - 714.

Already have an occasion picked out for those two matching black dress / lace legging outfits. :) 

I will end with the video that my sweet sister, Aline, made for the shower. 

Transliteration of the Portuguese text:

The Portelas - Part 4
The Journey Continues

Once upon a time there was a very cute baby girl...
and a big chubby baby boy...

Who met and began a beautiful journey together...
First came Lucas,
and then Elena arrived

But the couple still didn't feel that their family was complete...
...who knows, another boy or another girl..
...but who knew it would be TWO GIRLS!?...

Today, Taara's world is full of pink
...and the little girls are just growing...
...and growing (it's already getting a little tight in there)

We're waiting anxiously to meet you, little princesses. May God bring you out healthy and bless this beautiful family.

Do you think they'll stop there? Place your bets...

The Bump: 30 Weeks

How far along: 30 Weeks as of April 7
Development: Are you surprised that I'm going to write about having another ultrasound? Well, I have one scheduled for Friday and it's probably not going to be the last! They really love ultrasounds here and especially with twins I'll be getting more ultrasounds in the last month to monitor the girls growth, approximate weight and the uterine fluid levels. The most important thing from this point onward is that they both grow at basically the same rate - if one gets too much bigger than the other it can necessitate an early delivery. Our goal is to get to 36 weeks.
Movement: Definite "alien-esque" movements these days as my belly routinely stretches to one side or the other.
Weight Gain: Um, I'll update after my doctors visit this week - I don't really make a habit of stepping on the scale. ever.
Maternity Clothes: I finally went through my dresser and put away all the regular sized jeans and pants. Going to need to go through my tops and t-shirts as they are all starting to feel short. Time to get into hubby's shirts maybe?
Stretch Marks: Lots of new ones right around my belly. Applying cream to help as well as relieve itching.
Best moment of my week: Having almost two week's worth of groceries bought and delivered, thanks to my awesome in-laws. Standing in the grocery line is torture sometimes!
Worst moment: Leg. Cramps. Enough said.
Sleep: Power naps are a must during the day. Starting to get some back and hip pain regularly at night. Seriously, turning over is like doing a five point turn.
Miss Anything: Being able to get up from sitting without feeling back, leg and hip pain.
Food Cravings: Coffee and spicy noodles. Both not good for heartburn. :(
Aversions: Nope
Gender: Girls!
Labor signs: A few random contractions here and there.
Belly Button: Out and totally off-center. I think by the end I may not have a belly button at all as it is almost the only place on my belly that has any stretch left to it!
Rings: On
Mood: Excited, exhausted and a little anxious of the transition to a family of six!
Looking forward: Taking some family and maternity photos next weekend. I never did anything in my previous two pregnancies, and since this is our last (and we haven't had a good family photo in a while) I thought I'd better do it while we can. It's not everyday that you're pregnant with twins! :)

And here are a few "progress" shots from weeks 27-30...

Want to read my other "bump" updates? 15 Weeks, 18 Weeks, 21 Weeks, 24 Weeks and 27 Weeks

The Bump: 27 Weeks

How far along: 27 weeks as of March 17
Development: Going to have another ultrasound this week to check on things, but from the amount of movement - they are both doing well! Update: Baby 1 is head down (and most likely to stay that way) and Baby 2 is transverse at the top of my uterus. Hopefully she'll move head down by 30-32 weeks or so. Both girls are over 1 kilo already! (2.2 lbs) and after their ecocardiograph ultrasound the doctor said their hearts are "perfect". 
Movement: Starting to get ripples and waves visible from the outside. They do seem to take turns being active and resting. The best part is feeling some random leg/foot/arm? stretching right up by my ribs.
Weight Gain: Um, I'll update after my doctors visit this week - I don't really make a habit of stepping on the scale. ever. :) Update: Total weight gain this pregnancy: 3 kilos (6.6 lbs). It's basically all in my womb considering both girls together, the amniotic fluid and placentas. 
Maternity Clothes: Oh yes! I was very thankful when my sister-in-law arrived from Canada with a big pile of maternity shorts. It's been very hot and hard to find something comfortable to wear. Of course, now it's cooling down and today I'm wearing jeans!
Stretch Marks: Um, my stretch marks have stretch marks?
Best moment of my week: Getting to see my sister-in-law and her cutie pie son, Kevin. It has also been really interesting to see how Lucas and Elena interact with him.

Summer in Sao Paulo - my kids and I with my sister-in-law Grace and her son Kevin. 

Worst moment: Having to send my little Elena to the emergency room with her daddy this week.
Sleep: Can't seem to get through the day without at least a power nap! Night sleep is still pretty good, but it's getting hard to find a comfortable position. More pillows maybe?
Miss Anything: Seeing my toes?
Food Cravings: Really would love some good coffee, but no matter what I eat I get acid reflux and coffee is definitely not good for that!
Aversions: Nope
Gender: Girls!
Labor signs: Nothing yet.
Belly Button: Out and totally off-center.
Rings: On
Mood: Excited and a little anxious of the transition to a family of six!
Looking forward: Having a baby shower this weekend! I'm sure we're going to get lots of diapers since we don't really need a lot of the other "baby basics". With twins, we are going to need a truck-load of diapers just to get through the first month!

Since I'm expecting a lot of growth in the final stretch, I'll try to keep up with weekly photos.

Want to read my other "bump" updates? 15 Weeks, 18 Weeks, 21 Weeks and 24 Weeks

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The Bump: 24 Weeks

Well, we're about two thirds of the way through the pregnancy already! Time, of course, continues to fly by, the calendar will soon be filled up with more ultrasounds, scans and doctors visits. We're also preparing for my mom to come, then my sister, and then the twins. (Hopefully in that order!)

How far along: 24 weeks today (Feb 24)
Development: Babies looked great at their recent ultrasound last week. One is slightly bigger (just over 550 grams) with a bigger uterine sack. The other is not far behind though at about 520 grams. Still plenty of room and fluid in there for both of them. All vital organs accounted for and strong heart beats.
Movement: I can feel daily movement and it's the best part of being pregnant, even when it keeps you up at night!
Weight Gain: Basically the only weight I've gained is baby weight (just over 1kg now)
Maternity Clothes: Most definitely! Finding comfy and weather appropriate pants is the most important. Funnily enough some of my maternity tops from Lucas are feeling a little short already!
Stretch Marks: Yup, definitely getting some new ones across the top of my belly.
Best moment of my week: Finally having the gender confirmed and seeing my little girls on the ultrasound.
Worst moment: Nothing really stands out, so I guess I've been having a pretty good few weeks!
Sleep: Pretty good these days, although I have been waking up a few more times for the past few nights. Kids are also generally sleeping well, so that helps.
Miss Anything: Actually being able to eat a full plate of food. I do really eat almost every two hours and drink tons of water.
Food Cravings: My sweet tooth is baaaack! Right at this very moment I'm craving cinnamon rolls and carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Both not available to buy ready-made here - so there may be some baking in my kitchen tomorrow.
Aversions: Coffee gives me acid reflux so I'm staying away from that.
Gender: Girls!
Labor signs: Nothing yet, thankfully.
Belly Button: So very far out already, and it has shifted a little to the right side given that the baby on the left is the bigger one!
Rings: On
Mood: Excited to get things ready, but also tiring a lot more easily.
Looking forward: Getting our guest room ready for my mom!

Want to read my other "bump" updates? 15 Weeks, 18 Weeks and 21 Weeks

If the shoe fits...

We are not good at keeping secrets. The only reason we waited two days to tell our immediate family we were expecting was because our sister-in-law was giving birth and we didn't want to steal any attention away from that. We told our close friends soon after, and church people knew by 8 weeks. Of course, then we came back the next week with the news it was twins! 

At our second ultrasound (13 weeks) the doctor gave us an "experienced guess" as to the gender of our two littles. Then, at the next one (18 weeks) only one cooperated and the doctor (different this time) confirmed Baby 1, but left Baby 2 as "gender unknown". 

Finally at our most recent ultrasound the doctor (same as the second ultrasound) confirmed what he had suspected the first time around....

We will have three girls and a boy. Poor Lucas. He is the oldest and will definitely be the protector of his little sisters, maybe a job he won't always appreciate. Of course, my dad immediately said, "well, now you'll have to have another one in a few years to (hopefully) even things out a little" and hubby added, "well, if we had twin boys...."

Um, I think I'm done, folks! 

So now, onto the naming and buying of matching outfits in pink.... 

When there is no Denny's

If we had our way, we'd celebrate this Valentine's Day with a big breakfast out at Denny's or IHop or another "breakfast" type place. With two small kids it's hard to get out for big date nights and I'm usually tired by the time we get them to bed anyways. So since the kids are in preschool in the mornings, a breakfast date is a great time for us to get away.

Unfortunately, we have no Denny's or IHop around here. Brazilians aren't really into the big breakfast scene. So we went for the next best thing, a nice Padaria (Bakery) where we could sit down for some fresh orange juice, croissants, sweet bread and cappuccino. 

A nice breakfast date, chocolate kisses from me to the hubs (but you can bet I'm going to steal a few)
and a shot of me at almost 23 weeks. 

February 14th is not Valentine's Day here in Brazil. We have actually just come off the famous "Carnaval" holiday, which happens right before the beginning of Lent. (We don't really celebrate Carnaval either.) It is a huge deal here in Brazil and we actually have another version of Valentine's Day on June 12th. While we are not big V-day celebrators, it's nice to do something small. And the June 12th celebration comes right around our anniversary (June 11) so we always do something to mark that day as well. 

It is quite nice to "celebrate" without all the commercialisation of the holiday. No stress, just time to enjoy each other's company in the absence of small (and continuous) voices, and talk about names for our babies. :) 

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! 

The Bump: 21 Weeks

Do you ever get that feeling, "I can't believe this is happening!"? Usually it accompanies the highs and lows of life, the really bad things and the really good ones. Every couple of days it hits me again that we are having twins and I think, "I can't believe this is happening!" In a good way, of course. :) Even with pretty frequent ultrasounds (we've already had three) it is hard to believe there are really two babies kicking around in there. Time is flying by and I'm trying to get a lot accomplished in the second trimester so I can rest a lot at the end, to keep these babies in as long as I can, but be prepared if we have an early delivery. Our goal is to hit 36 weeks (full term for twins).

How far along: 21 weeks as of today (Feb 3)
Development: Babies were looking good at our last ultrasound, and we got an approximate weight of already 200gms each (almost half a pound). They are both developing right on schedule and have similar heart beats, measurements and weights. It's always best for twins if they are growing at roughly the same rate.
Movement: Finally starting to feel their movements every day. The one on the top (side) doesn't have as much space for movement as the other.
Weight Gain: Just weighed myself today and have gained 2 kilos (4.5 pounds). After losing in the first trimester, this seems pretty good.
Maternity Clothes: Definitely. Some pants/skirts I can wear below the belly, but pretty soon it'll be time to get out the real serious stuff.
Stretch Marks: I think I saw a few new ones this week.
Best moment of my week: Going to the beach with my brother, hubby and kids. It was a beautiful sunny day and my big boy conquered his fear of the waves!
Worst moment: Having to wait in a long line late at night and keep the kids under control in the airport saying goodbye to my brother as he returned to Canada. Made me think twice about traveling internationally for a while!
Sleep: Pretty good, although it's taking longer and longer to turn over at night, and I need to do that at least a few times to prevent hip/back pain.
Miss Anything: Being pain free. It's just starting to get uncomfortable at times.
Food Cravings: Everything. My sweet tooth is also coming back, but I'm going to have to keep it in check!
Aversions: Not really. Have had coffee a handful of times, but I still prefer tea these days.
Gender: Ah - well, at the ultrasound only one baby cooperated, so we know that one is a girl, but the other remains a mystery until our next scan in two weeks!
Symptoms: Feeling really good these days now that I'm not sick anymore. Just starting to have some back/hip pain.
Labor signs: None
Belly Button: Halfway out.
Rings: On
Mood: Energized!
Looking forward: Totally unrelated to pregnancy, but looking forward to seeing my sister-in-law and her baby boy who I haven't met in person yet!

And even though it's not really a fair comparison considering we're having twins this time, here's how my other two pregnancies looked at 20-21 weeks:

Want to read my other "bump" updates? 15 Weeks and 18 Weeks.

Gettin' my Mojo Back!

Whew! It's been a looooong few weeks. After a pretty rough and exhausting first trimester, I was so ready to put all those initial pregnancy symptoms to rest and settle in for a great second trimester. Boy, was I wrong. "Morning sickness" lasted well until at least 16 weeks and I think just after I started to feel a little more "normal" I got hit by a massive sinus cold/cough that lasted a good three weeks. If you know me, you know that I hardly ever get sick, like, at all. I have the immune system of a horse and a stomach of steel. :) So to be knocked down for three weeks felt like an eternity for me. I had to resort to antibiotics (doctor's recommendation) to kick this sinusitis.

So now I am finally feeling back to "normal" - um, except for the ever growing belly and a few second trimester symptoms. I've got so much more energy and I figure I've got to put it to good use in the next few weeks before I really get huge! There's so much to do before the babies arrive. We are getting our guest room ready for my parents (mom is coming to stay and help for hopefully two months or more) and of course we have to make room for the twins and all the baby paraphernalia that accompanies newborns.

In the midst of my hazy sickness, we managed to throw a belated party for Lucas, only accomplished with lots of help from my mother-in-law! So I'll be back with details on his "Construction" themed party and of course, lots more pregnancy and kid posts before life gets crazy in May.

Thanks for sticking around and reading!

The Bump: 18 weeks

Well, I've basically hit the halfway point! If I get to 36 weeks that is. If I don't, then I'm already over halfway! If I make it past 36 weeks, I'll be very surprised. I find myself in a weird head space these days; on one hand I know this pregnancy is going to get a lot harder in the next few months, and on the other hand I want to cherish it since it is probably my last. I always loved being pregnant with my other two, and while I am enjoying this one, it's definitely a lot harder on my body this time around! Plus I know the first few months of these babies lives are going to be crazy, so I should take advantage of the time I can easily control four kids. Four kids, four and under. Yikes!

How far along: 18 weeks as of Jan 13
Development: Haven't had any more doctors appointments or scans, but everything seems to be on track. Have had several comments over the last few Sundays at church to the tune of, "wow, you are getting bigger every week!"
Movement: Right around 17 weeks I started to feel definite movements, usually right when I am getting into bed. Very bubbly, fluttery movements, but it's nice to know there are actually babies in there.
Weight Gain: I think I've made it back to my starting weight after losing about 5 pounds in the first trimester.
Maternity Clothes: Starting to wear a few "in-between" pants before we get into the huge banded ones. Also enjoying a lot of dresses as we've had hot weather here. And it will get worse before (hopefully) getting cooler in the last month or so.
Stretch Marks: Same old, same old.
Best moment of my week(s): Enjoying a movie night with hubby and the kids. Buying a super-duper stroller that my brother is bringing from Canada next week! Actually it's more like a transformer than a stroller. :)
Worst moment: Having a horrible cough and cold for about the past three weeks. Seems to be finally on its way out thankfully.
Sleep: Not too bad, had one horrible night with crazy Braxton Hicks contractions that I have never experienced before. I would wake up feeling like my stomach had simultaneously jumped and shrunk and hiccuped while letting out a huge breath. It happened about ten times in the span of two hours.
Miss Anything: Having no pain and feeling healthy. I hardly ever get sick so this cold/cough is really a pain for me.
Food Cravings: Um, everything? Just can't really eat a lot so I find myself constantly hungry.
Aversions: Would love some coffee, but I just can't stand the thought of drinking it!
Gender: Don't know yet, but this week is the tell-all ultrasound (assuming they both cooperate!)
Symptoms: Muscle and back pain,
Labor signs: A few Braxton Hicks
Belly Button: Stretching more and more.
Rings: On
Mood: Annoyed at being sick and tired.
Looking forward: Seeing our babies and finding out the gender. Having my brother come to visit for a few weeks!

The Bump: 15 Weeks

Ever since we found out we were pregnant I have loved following along several pregnant bloggers weekly bump updates. I know there is no way I will keep up with a weekly one, but since this is definitely most likely my last pregnancy I hope to write one every few weeks at least! Plus, you know the belly shots are going to get crazy in the last few weeks!

Here we go!

Yes, it is a huge bump for 15 weeks, just remember it's my third pregnancy and it's TWINS!

How far along: 15 weeks as of Dec. 23.
Development: At my last doctors appointment we measured both twins at about 8 cm (crown/rump) on the ultrasound. According to our measuring scan everything looks good and they are healthy.
Movement: A few times I have thought I felt them moving, but it's still pretty early for that. From the ultrasounds one is very active and the other seems a little more calm (probably because he/she is squished into the top of my uterus. :))
Weight Gain: Since my first doctors appointment (around 5 weeks) I have lost over 2 kilos.
Maternity Clothes: Not yet, but some of my pants are totally out already.
Stretch Marks: Um, no new ones as far as I can tell. :)
Best moment of my week: Seeing the babies on the ultrasound and having a dinner date with the hubby.
Worst moment: Waking up in the middle of the night to deal with a sick toddler and a big mess.
Sleep: So thankful that both kids are sleeping through the night. I just have to get up once to pee and I'm good. :)
Miss Anything: Having energy and motivation to keep the house in order. Sleeping on my back or stomach.
Food Cravings: Spicy noodles, hot curries, dill pickles.
Aversions: None really, just can't eat much of anything since my stomach seems to have already shrunk a lot.
Gender: We have a guess from our last ultrasound, but hope to find out for sure in a few weeks at our next one. (Yes, we get a lot of ultrasounds here in Brazil, and I'll probably have more than usual with my "high-risk" twin pregnancy!)
Symptoms: Nausea, exhaustion, sore muscles.
Labor signs: Thankfully none.
Belly Button: Stretching already, what can I say? Third pregnancy, with twins!
Rings: On.
Mood: Generally happy.
Looking forward: Can't wait to really start feeling them move inside and then to have the kids feel the babies moving.

First Time Mom Advice

There's no doubt about it, I am struggling a lot more with morning (read: all day) sickness with this twin pregnancy than I did with my singletons. I really do feel like almost a different person. I wrote here about the dangers of googling, but there are some valid searches and good information to be found if you look in the right place. I had to laugh though, at one article I found on "dealing with morning sickness" and how so many tips just don't apply if you already have kids. (especially small ones)

1. Allow yourself plenty of time to get out of bed. Get out of bed slowly as you start your day. 

Ha! I don't think I've been able to get out of bed "slowly" since my son was born almost four years ago. In an ideal world I would wake up with a soft beam of sunlight hitting my bed, hearing the birds chirp, getting a small glimpse of blue sky and green leaves through the billowing white curtains, and smelling a fresh pot of coffee. Reality - I am usually awakened by either my son standing by my bedside telling me "it's time to get up", or "I'm wet/poopy" or hearing my daughter yelling, "mommy, mommy, I wanna get out!" through the monitor. So yeah, getting up slowly is just not an option with two toddlers. 

2. Avoid foods or smells that make your nausea worse, and avoid being in warm places, which can increase your nausea. Um, so I guess it's not a good time to do potty training then? We are in serious training here with both kids and I can't count the number of wet/poopy pants/underpants I've had to rinse and wash in the past few weeks. Oh, and we're heading into summer here, a likely-to-be very hot summer. Woohoo. (insert sarcasm)

3. For dinner avoid spicy, greasy foods. Prepare things that are bland and do not have a strong odor. You may have to avoid cooking for the first trimester. So I guess I'll just let my kids (and hubby) starve for a while, then? I guess we could survive on cereal for dinner for a few weeks, right? Here's my other problem. I totally crave spicy foods. In fact my mom sent me a nice jar of mango pickle (hot, spicy, greasy, and tasty!) and just the smell of it helped my nausea. As for actually eating it though, probably not. Still, I just can't let my family go hungry and so I've been cooking as normal as much as I can. 

Now this would be a good way to wake up!
via

So while these are great tips for a first time mom - they just aren't cutting it for this mom of two expecting two.

When I hit 12 weeks on Sunday I am officially declaring myself to be over the first trimester (since I'm pretty unlikely to go past 36 weeks) and banning morning sickness from my body. Do you think it will work?

Not Quite Myself

I haven't been feeling quite like myself lately. For about 7 weeks - actually 7 weeks and one day ago I started feeling sick, four days later I took a pregnancy test and was a little surprised to see a positive result when I had yet to miss a period. 

It may have something to do with the two little ones taking up valuable real estate and moving everything around in there. I mean, seriously, I'm just 10 weeks and already my bladder is compromised. I'm sure it took a few months with my other two pregnancies to reach that have-to-pee-twice-a-night stage. 

Many of you may have read my musings on when/if to add a third child to our family, if not, go and see what I wrote close to the end...

Hubby and I often joked about just getting the baby stuff done with and having twins the next time around (this was before I got pregnant) and I just never really thought it was likely that I would have twins. The only twins I have in my family are my cousins who are identical, and apparently having identical twins is not a hereditary genetic thing. You are more likely to have fraternal twins based on heredity. 

So when I went to have my first ultrasound (super early here in Brazil - they use it to accurately date your pregnancy) around 7 weeks, and the doctor didn't say anything about having twins, or actually anything at all, I just assumed I was having a routine single pregnancy. I couldn't wait to pick up the results in a week to see if everything was ok. After finally getting the results (another long story) I walked back to the car, got settled in the driver's seat, and opened the envelope containing those precious photos and lots of medical speak (most of which I don't understand since it is all in Portuguese). So I start scanning the summary report, skimming over most of the first few paragraphs, when suddenly I read, "observa-se dois embriões" (we observe two embryos) and I think I stopped breathing for a while. Two embryos, two heart beats, two measurements of the little ones growing inside. Needless to say, I was in a bit of shock and called hubby in a mix of tears and laughter to tell him we are having twins. 

Since then google has been my best friend and worst enemy. I read so many articles in the first few days, all about twin pregnancy, labor and delivery, myths and rumors on twins, incidence of natural vs c-section deliveries, the best twin strollers, a scary phenomenon called vanishing twin syndrome, and a very interesting one connecting twin pregnancy to long life and health.

So things have been quite different lately, feeling tired and sick every day, just trying to eat enough, not throw up and keep the kids lives as normal as can be for now. When we first found out I was pregnant I had so many things I wanted to write on this blog, and I still do, I just don't have as much energy these days for blogging, so it might be a little quieter around here. We are excited to do our 12 week ultrasound in a few weeks to get another look at our little ones. 

And I've given up reading anything on the internet for a while. :)